Chapter 168: Many Hands Make Light Work!
Cuicun Arsenal
Due to fear of the Eighth Route Army’s Hell Cannon and worry that the Eighth Route Army would discover this place, Cuicun Arsenal stopped production, and the machinery and equipment and raw materials were all being hastily packed.
After Sato Jino took over from Fujita Ichi, half of the packed equipment and supplies had already been quickly and secretly transported away by Sato Jino’s assistant with his men.
The remaining half of the equipment and raw materials and supplies were also being hurriedly packed by the workers at Cuicun Arsenal.
Basically, it was almost all packed up, and the transport trucks were all parked in the open space at Cuicun Arsenal, waiting to be loaded.
“Captain, everyone else is fighting fiercely, but they pull us back to cover the transport of the remaining half of the equipment and raw materials from this Cuicun Arsenal. This is a bit too much looking down on us, isn’t it? We’re not a logistics transport team.” A Japanese Squadron Leader said to Watari Battalion Commander, adding, “Moreover, they’re making our battalion deploy two squadrons. That’s too many troops. Actually, reinforcements are needed on the other battlefields right now.”
This Watari Battalion was none other than the Japanese Brigade that had previously pursued the direct lineage 217th Regiment.
Halfway through, it was tested by Kong Jie with a jumping mine, and Kong Jie conveniently wiped out one of its squadrons.
The Watari Battalion was intimidated by the power of the jumping mine, did not pursue the Eighth Route Army, but continued to chase the direct lineage 217th Regiment.
This made Watari Battalion Commander’s superior officer extremely furious.
Are you eating shit, Watari!
Don’t you know that our greatest enemy is the Eighth Route Army?
And you, when the Eighth Route Army finally showed up and even wiped out one of your squadrons, you still let them escape.
Even the direct lineage 217th Regiment you were pursuing slipped away without a trace, and you lost the target.
The superior officer was angry, so Watari was transferred over to do logistics transportation.
“The main reason is that our previous act of letting the Eighth Route Army go made the Brigade Commander too angry.” Watari now felt some regret. If he had known, even at the risk of the remaining two squadrons being completely wiped out, he should have pursued the Eighth Route Army.
He just didn’t believe that they could have buried that many jumping mines.
Unfortunately, there is no regret medicine in this world.
It was a bit late for Watari to react now.
“But the Brigade Commander assigning us to do logistics transportation is also a bit too…” The Squadron Leader still had some emotions about it.
We earned so much merit, and we only made one mistake.
Putting frontline combat troops into logistics for transportation is really demoralizing.
That Black Island Cavalry Regiment, and Ueno no Mura’s Tank Regiment, have they fought few losing battles?
Why are those two not only fine, but their establishments can be quickly replenished.
When it comes to us, we’re treated as an example!
“Forget it, don’t think too much.” Watari Battalion Commander waved his hand and said, “We only have two squadrons left now. Taking this logistics transportation opportunity to rest and reorganize. We’ll redeem ourselves later.”
“Watari, the remaining half of the equipment and supplies are all packed. They can be loaded onto the vehicles.” The Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal walked up to Watari Battalion Commander.
“Then hurry up and load the vehicles.” Watari Battalion Commander didn’t dawdle.
Deputy Minister Sato Jino had solemnly instructed that no mishaps could occur with this remaining half of the equipment and original supplies.
Since it was packed, load it immediately and transport it away.
“Watari, to finish loading faster, have your soldiers help out.” The Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal said.
“Baka, we are combat troops, not porters!” The Squadron Leader next to Watari was already in a bad mood, and upon hearing the Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal make such a request, he immediately glared.
“Baka, shut your mouth!” Watari Battalion Commander scolded the Squadron Leader. He was the Factory Director of the arsenal; how dare a mere Squadron Leader yell at him to his face!
Then Watari Battalion Commander apologized to the Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal: “Sorry about that. We just suffered a defeat, so morale and army morale are not great.”
“No problem.” The Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal expressed understanding.
“Take your squadron to help load the vehicles.” Watari Battalion Commander said to the Squadron Leader.
“Yes, Captain.” The Squadron Leader hung his head and carried out the order.
Just like that, the originally full-strength Watari Battalion had one squadron wiped out by Kong Jie.
Another squadron was transferred to put down their weapons and help the arsenal load the vehicles.
Only one squadron was left on alert.
Against this backdrop, Li Yunlong, Kong Jie, and Ding Wei led their troops and quietly arrived.
Li Yunlong first observed with a telescope and cursed: “Damn it, these little Japanese invaders have a good nose. They’re transferring the arsenal.”
Ding Wei also observed with a telescope and said gratefully: “Old Li, good thing we came in time. The little Japanese invaders are hurriedly loading the vehicles. If we were a bit later, this Japanese arsenal would probably have gotten away.”
“You two, do we hit now, or wait until they set off and hit them halfway?” Kong Jie asked excitedly from the side.
This could really capture an arsenal back, haha.
When he sees Factory Director Li later, he’ll definitely get praised hard, hehe.
“Do I even need to say it? The Japanese invaders have packed up the equipment and raw materials and supplies. They’ve done such a thoughtful job before hitting the road. We definitely can’t be polite.” Li Yunlong was holding a rocket launcher and had already started loading rockets.
Ding Wei on the side also said: “We’re out here, the shorter the time we stay outside the better, so we definitely need to hurry.”
“Alright then, let’s start right away.” Kong Jie also began loading rockets into the rocket launcher.
To strike the arsenal, they couldn’t use the Hell Cannon.
That thing had too much power. If it accidentally blasted the equipment, there’d be no place for regret.
Attacking with rocket launchers carried on the shoulder was the most suitable.
All the rocket launchers were loaded with rockets, and the main force was also made ready to follow.
This time, it was different from striking Ueno no Mura’s Tank Regiment.
They had absolute troop superiority here, three regiments.
While the garrison troops at that Japanese arsenal looked to be only about two hundred men.
Plus another two hundred helping load the vehicles, without carrying weapons.
Relying on rocket launchers to quickly take out the enemy’s firepower points at the fastest speed, then the main force swarms up like a wolf pack.
Even if each person spits a bit of saliva, it could drown the remaining enemy.
So, no need for the main force to provide cover. Just directly sweep them away and annihilate.
“Remember.” Thinking of something, Ding Wei instructed: “Try not to hurt the arsenal workers inside as much as possible. Capture them all alive. Factory Director Li there must be short on experienced workers.”
Now, with the Border Region Arsenal producing more weapons and ammunition, it definitely needed more skilled workers.
“Yes, yes, Old Ding’s reminder is very important.” Kong Jie immediately nodded and said to Li Yunlong: “Li Yunlong, when the time comes, you boy better not go wild. Even if there are Japanese invaders among the workers, you have to hold back as much as possible.”
Among the Iron Triangle, Li Yunlong hated the Japanese invaders the most.
Even when Japanese captives were caught, this guy dared to kill all the captives, and his regiment commander position was stripped.
Kong Jie, having done coal mining at the arsenal, deeply knew the significance of skilled workers to the arsenal.
Maybe Factory Director Li there was now worrying about the shortage of skilled workers.
“Damn it, these Japanese workers making weapons to supply the Japanese invaders should all be killed!” Li Yunlong cursed, “Capturing these people, we can’t just shove them straight into our arsenal.”
The Border Region Arsenal was very important; its location couldn’t be easily leaked.
These Japanese workers, even captured, couldn’t be used immediately.
Ding Wei said sternly: “Old Li, I dare say to you, if you kill Japanese captives like before, and if Factory Director Li finds out you killed the workers…”
“Alright, alright, I’ll listen to you two. I absolutely won’t touch a hair on those Japanese workers. That okay?” Li Yunlong still nodded.
If Li Muzhi were here, he would say: Li Yunlong, don’t look at Japanese captives like that. You fought Chu Yunfei to a draw, got half-killed by one of Chu Yunfei’s cannonballs, and it was a Japanese doctor who saved your life.
“Then let’s do it.” Having straightened out Li Yunlong’s thinking, Ding Wei urged without hesitation.
Twelve rocket launchers, loaded with two types of rockets, immediately began aiming at their respective targets.
Some aimed at machine gun positions, some at Japanese patrol teams, some at bunkers…
“Fire!” With Li Yunlong’s order, he also pulled the trigger.
Ding Wei and the other rocket launcher soldiers also pulled their triggers one after another.
Twelve rockets, two per group, were immediately launched.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
……
Nine of the twelve rockets hit their targets.
The machine gun position was destroyed, and all the Japanese machine gunners and assistant shooters fell into pools of blood.
The bunker was hit. Although it didn’t completely collapse, half of it caved in.
The shockwave from the explosion directly took the lives of most of the Japanese inside.
A few Japanese invaders fell into coma, bleeding from all orifices; going to see Amaterasu was just a matter of time.
As for the patrol team, it was completely wiped out.
The flying iron beads knocked all the Japanese to the ground. Even those not killed on the spot basically lost combat power.
“Hahaha, these rockets are damn good. From now on, we’ll have light artillery to strike bunkers and machine gun positions. Haha, Younger Brother Li is awesome.” Li Mouren was so happy his spittle flew everywhere.
At the same time!
Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Kong Jie’s troops opened fire rapidly from different directions.
Rat-tat-tat!
Rat-tat-tat!
Bang!
Bang!
……
Light and heavy machine guns and rifles fired together. The dense firepower swept through like a storm, easily clearing out this alerting Japanese Squadron.
Watari hid behind an obstacle. Although he wasn’t attacked, the scene before him still shocked him directly: “Baka, is the Eighth Route Army firing cannons carried on their shoulders?”
The Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal, seeing this, was also full of shock: “This, this, this cannon, how can it be fired from the shoulder? How is that possible!”
As the Factory Director of the arsenal, of course he understood artillery.
Artillery had such great recoil; how could a human shoulder bear it.
Toot-toot!
Toot-toot!
Toot-toot!
The charge horn sounded, and the Eighth Route Army troops from the three regiments surged forward like a tide.
Watari Battalion Commander and the Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal had no time to react or think.
Watari Battalion Commander was riddled with machine gun fire like a sieve. The Factory Director of Cuicun Arsenal was pinned to the ground by several Eighth Route Army soldiers, then quickly tied up five-flowered and gagged.
The main force rushed into the arsenal interior. The Japanese soldiers inside who wanted to pick up weapons to resist, as well as the arsenal’s original guard Japanese, were quickly cleaned up completely.
The workers at Cuicun Arsenal were unarmed. Their resistance was a joke in front of Li Yunlong, Ding Wei, and Kong Jie’s three regiments.
Without much effort, these hundred or so workers at Cuicun Arsenal were all captured alive and bound.
“Hurry, hurry, bring our war horses over, put all the packed stuff onto the horse backs for me, faster, faster.” Li Yunlong quickly directed the troops to move things.
“Dismantle these trucks if possible, move fast, and load the fuel back in.” Ding Wei added.
Kong Jie shouted: “Dismantle this factory building too.”
Li Yunlong cursed: “Kong Er Lengzi, why dismantle the house? We’re making too much noise here. The Japanese invaders will definitely go mad with reinforcements. We can’t delay on the road; we must return at the fastest speed.”
“Li Yunlong, you don’t manage the house, so you don’t know how important the materials for this house are.” Kong Jie roared, “The factory buildings at the arsenal are too small and need expansion, need materials.”
“Damn it, Kong Er Lengzi, then don’t dismantle too much, just enough is fine. Our marching speed can’t be affected.” Li Yunlong said.
“Don’t worry.” Kong Jie replied.
Many hands make light work!
The warriors from the three regiments moved very fast. The things were quickly loaded properly, over a thousand war horses fully laden, and the warriors led the war horses away rapidly.
“This is thanks to the Japanese invaders packing in advance, saving us so much precious time.” Li Mouren laughed until his whole face lit up, but still said calmly, “Old Kong, take the stuff back to the Border Region Arsenal at the fastest speed. Old Ding and I will cover you. Give all the rocket launchers to me and Old Ding.”
The rockets weren’t used up, and the testing wasn’t finished.
To provide cover was a good chance to complete the testing.
“Old Li, Old Ding, I leave it to you two.” Kong Jie didn’t hesitate and immediately handed over the people, rocket launchers, and rockets to Li Yunlong and Ding Wei.
Kong Jie also knew what hitting this Japanese arsenal meant to the Japanese invaders.
Even with war horses for transport, the speed wasn’t slow.
But it still needed Li Yunlong and Ding Wei’s cover.
“Don’t worry, Old Kong.”
……
